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Ellis arrived and using the hose syphoned fuel from the vehicle into a black container which he then put in a black binbag.

“Mr Naughton rang police and asked officers to attend and approached the defendant. He asked him to switch off the engine and wait the arrival of the officers,” she said.

Ellis drove off. After realising Mr Naughton was on the ground, he stopped the vehicle and went back and spoke with him but then drove away.

Police later arrested Ellis at the depot.

Initially he told officers he denied theft, and went to Lon Popty to have his lunch and was simply cleaning the vehicle.

Shown the video footage taken br Mr Naughton, however, he made admitted what he'd done.

In court on Thursday, he admitted charges of theft and driving without due care and attention.

Ellis was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for stealing the fuel and fined £300 for the driving offence. Eight penalty points will be imposed on his licence. He must also pay £170 costs and £22 compensation.

Sion Hughes, defending, said Ellis, of Hafod Oleu, was “deeply ashamed” at being hauled before the court.

“He did not intend to cause harm. He’d been caught stealing and panicked. He thought he was clear to drive off but he wasn’t and struck Mr Naughton and apologises to him,” he said.

Ellis, he added, had worked for Gwynedd council for 17 years but had since resigned and found other employment as a driver.

He conceded there were aggravating features and a breach of trust but asked the court to give Ellis credit for his guilty plea and to spare him from a driving ban which would affect his job.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Gwynedd Council takes public safety and the theft of property very seriously. We are therefore pleased with the outcome of today’s hearing and satisfied with the sentence. We are grateful to North Wales Police and the magistrates for their work.